Following their X50 line, Vivo is bringing some much need power with updates to their Y-series of mid-range smartphones. The new Vivo Y31 (2021) takes some of the beloved features from the flagship X50 line and V20 Series but tweaks it slightly to lower the price to let more people enjoy it.
Design: 4/5
Like the X50 and V20, the Vivo Y31 (2021) is a gorgeous-looking phone, especially with the gradient color scheme at the back. Our unit was the ocean blue variant which, in my opinion, is the better looking between the two.
The phone feels premium when you hold it. It’s firm with a bit of heft; with the smooth back, the slightly curved edges at the back help with holding the phone. It is a fingerprint magnet though, luckily, Vivo has included a jelly case inside the box to help with that.
The Vivo Y31 sports a 6.58-inch Halo FullView display with the notch housing the 8-megapixel selfie camera. At the back is the triple camera setup (more on this later). The top of the phone has the sim card tray along with mic holes. The bottom has the downward-firing speaker, the headphone jack, a mic hole, and the USB Type-C charging. Lastly, the right side of the phone has the volume buttons and the fingerprint reader/ power button.
Hardware: 4/5
The Vivo Y31 (2021) packs a punch, sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor with an Adreno 610 GPU. The SoC is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage that is also expandable via a dedicated MicroSD card slot. It’s powered by a 5000mAh battery with an 18W fast charge.
The highlight of the Vivo Y31 is definitely its triple camera setup at the back. It has a 48-megapixel main shooter, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Don’t let the mundane specs fool you; the Y31’s camera features an electronic image stabilizer (EIS) which I found to be comparable with that of the X50. Just note that video is limited to 30fps at 1080p, but this is good enough for most modern devices.
User Experience: 4.5/5
I had a blast during my time with the Vivo Y31 (2021). The device was snappy, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and the great optimization of Vivo’s FuntouchOS 11 over Android 11.
In terms of gaming performance, the Vivo Y31 was able to run esports titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile and League of Legends: Wild Rift with ease at high resolutions. But it did struggle in heavier titles like Genshin Impact, only playable in extremely low settings.
I was amazed by the performance of the Y31 during long gaming hours. The device didn’t get uncomfortably warm, and the 5000mAh battery lasted me throughout the day in heavy use. Charging time was also decent, lasting about two and a half hours from 5% to full charged.
Another thing that I liked about the Vivo Y31 is its camera. Images came out great, it was sharp, and colors were more or less accurate. The EIS built-in in the camera was also great. I took some videos walking around, and the results were stable and without any noticeable artificial tearing, unlike other EIS out there.
The Vivo Y31 (2021) is also great for binge-watching on the go. The screen was great even outdoors, with colors staying vibrant and sharp. I do have some qualms with the speakers. I found it lacking in some form. If you activate the Audio Boost feature, the volume does get louder, but the sound gets messy. I found that the best way to enjoy the phone was with the included headset in the box over the built-in speaker.
Value: 3.5/5
The Vivo Y31 (2021) retails for PHP 12,999, which is a bit on the higher side compared to devices that have a similar spec. But unlike those devices, the Vivo Y31 does give you higher RAM capacity with better looks and feel.
Specifications:
- Display: 6.58-inch FullView Display
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
- GPU: Adreno 610
- OS: FuntouchOS 11 over Android 11
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB (expandable via MicroSD slot)
- Camera: Front: 8-megapixel; Rear: 48-megapixel, 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth)
- Battery: 5000mAh (with 18W fast charging)
- Connections: USB Type-C, WiFi (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, OTG
- Features: Side-mounted fingerprint reader, Audio Boost, Electronic Image Stabilization
- Dimensions: 163.86 x 75.32 x 8.38mm
- Weight: 188g
What’s Hot:
- Good Camera
- Video Stabilization
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
What’s Not:
- Not the greatest speaker out there
- No ultra-wide-angle camera
Bottomline:
The Vivo Y31 (2021) is your next phone.
Reviewed by Gabriel Pe
Also published in Gadgets Magazine February 2021 Issue